The Legend of the Holy Grail its Sources, Character and Development, by Dorothy Kempe. The introduction to, and Part V of, Herry Lovelich's verse "History of the Holy Grail," |
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| XVIII. |
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| XX. |
| XXI. |
| XXII. |
| XXIII. | CHAPTER XXIII. |
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| XXVII. |
| XXVIII. |
| XXIX. |
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| XXXI. |
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| XXXVIII. |
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 | CHAPTER XXIII. The Legend of the Holy Grail |  |
CHAPTER XXIII.
277
Thus In this Manere spak this good Manne
Ful long with the king In þe Roche thanne,
And with so Manie wordes swete
Thus tawhte him the develes lore to lete.
And the kyng Alle his tales wel Abod,
& ful wel hem likede, & stille he stod,
For so Wel him liked his Talkyng,
That it was ful Ioyful to the kyng.
Ful long with the king In þe Roche thanne,
And with so Manie wordes swete
Thus tawhte him the develes lore to lete.
And the kyng Alle his tales wel Abod,
& ful wel hem likede, & stille he stod,
For so Wel him liked his Talkyng,
That it was ful Ioyful to the kyng.
Thanne this Goodman took him be the hond,
And be his Name him Cleped, I vndirstond,
That he took be his Crestenenge,
Sire Mordreins, that was ferst Eualach þe kynge.
And be his Name him Cleped, I vndirstond,
That he took be his Crestenenge,
Sire Mordreins, that was ferst Eualach þe kynge.
Thanne Axede this goode Man there Anon,
‘ȝif he hadde Ony honger him vppon.’
Thanne the kyng Answerid Anon there
With faire wordes In this Manere,
‘That ȝif In his Compenie he wolde Abyde,
And not from him gon At that tyde,
Al his hevynesse he Scholde Forgete,
And bothe hunger & thurst scholde he lete.’
‘ȝif he hadde Ony honger him vppon.’
Thanne the kyng Answerid Anon there
With faire wordes In this Manere,
‘That ȝif In his Compenie he wolde Abyde,
And not from him gon At that tyde,
Al his hevynesse he Scholde Forgete,
And bothe hunger & thurst scholde he lete.’
Anon be the hond he gan him lede
Down to the Schipe In that stede,
And there him schewed Alle Maner Of Richesse
Of Mete, & Of drink gret pletevousnesse,
That Ony herte On kowde bethenke,
In that Schipe was Of mete & drinke.
Thanne seide to þe king this good man Anon,
“Lo! Alle these deintes In thi wil wile I don,
To taken there-Offen what Euere thou liste,
To Eten & drinken Al Of the beste;
And At thi wille Al this Schal be
In this Manere, as I telle it the.”
And whanne þe kyng Al this Merveille beheld,
With Alle deyntes Anon he was ful fyld,
That hunger ne thorst ne felte he Non,
Thanne streyht from his Mete he hadde gon.
Down to the Schipe In that stede,
And there him schewed Alle Maner Of Richesse
278
That Ony herte On kowde bethenke,
In that Schipe was Of mete & drinke.
Thanne seide to þe king this good man Anon,
“Lo! Alle these deintes In thi wil wile I don,
To taken there-Offen what Euere thou liste,
To Eten & drinken Al Of the beste;
And At thi wille Al this Schal be
In this Manere, as I telle it the.”
And whanne þe kyng Al this Merveille beheld,
With Alle deyntes Anon he was ful fyld,
That hunger ne thorst ne felte he Non,
Thanne streyht from his Mete he hadde gon.
ȝit More seide the kyng to this good man tho,
“Sire, I wele ȝe wete that it be So,—
That with ȝowre wordis that ben so swete,
& Of þe Sihte of this drinke & Mete
Wheche that ben In this present plase,
That In this Schipe Schewed þou me has,—
That Sihte So fulfilleth Me,
And maketh me ful Of delicase,
That to Eten ne drinken have I non lust;
For so Mochel In thy wordis I trust.
And sethen ȝe sein that ȝe knowe
Alle Mennes thowhtes vppon A rowe,
Thanne knowen ȝe Myn with-Owten faille;
Wherfore I preye ȝow Of good Cownsaille.”
“Sire, I wele ȝe wete that it be So,—
That with ȝowre wordis that ben so swete,
& Of þe Sihte of this drinke & Mete
Wheche that ben In this present plase,
That In this Schipe Schewed þou me has,—
That Sihte So fulfilleth Me,
And maketh me ful Of delicase,
That to Eten ne drinken have I non lust;
For so Mochel In thy wordis I trust.
And sethen ȝe sein that ȝe knowe
Alle Mennes thowhtes vppon A rowe,
Thanne knowen ȝe Myn with-Owten faille;
Wherfore I preye ȝow Of good Cownsaille.”
Than Answerid this good Man Anon,
“Thy thowhtes I knowe Wel Echon;
Thow thenkest On Nascien, thy brother dere,
That the Womman tolde the of here.
For him wele I not Forgete, neþer vpe ne down;
Thow schalt him Seen In A-visiown
Decende from the hevene Adown ful Rathe,
And In the Nynthe Flood he schal him bathe,
That largere and deppere it is to Seye,
Thanne the toþere viij. ben In feye.”
“Thy thowhtes I knowe Wel Echon;
Thow thenkest On Nascien, thy brother dere,
That the Womman tolde the of here.
For him wele I not Forgete, neþer vpe ne down;
Thow schalt him Seen In A-visiown
Decende from the hevene Adown ful Rathe,
279
That largere and deppere it is to Seye,
Thanne the toþere viij. ben In feye.”
And whanne the kyng herd him Sein so,
Ful sore Abasched was he thanne tho,
And Merveilled mochel what this Man were
That sweche wordes Spak to him there,
How that he Scholde haven knowenge
Of Sweche A Maner Strawnge thinge.
There-by he thowghte Certeinly
That he was non Man to ben dedly;
But so bold dorste he not thanne ben thore
Of him to Enqweren there Ony More.
Ful sore Abasched was he thanne tho,
And Merveilled mochel what this Man were
That sweche wordes Spak to him there,
How that he Scholde haven knowenge
Of Sweche A Maner Strawnge thinge.
There-by he thowghte Certeinly
That he was non Man to ben dedly;
But so bold dorste he not thanne ben thore
Of him to Enqweren there Ony More.
And whanne he hadde Avised him In this Manere,
Anon him preide, And gan to Enqwere,
“That he wolde tellen him Alle & Som
The Signefiawnce Of his Avisiown,
And that ȝe Wolden, for god Almyht,
It me declaren now Anon Riht;
For I have Ful longe In gret thowht be,
What signefiaunce it Mihte ben to Me.”
Thanne Answerid this good Man Agein,
“That schalt thow neuere weten In Certein
Into the tyme & Into that day
That this viande owt Of this plase the bringe away.
And thanne Schalt thow knowen [the certeinte]
What that thy vicioun doth signefe,
Al from begynneng to the Ende;
Thanne schalt thow knowen how it schal wende.
Anon him preide, And gan to Enqwere,
“That he wolde tellen him Alle & Som
The Signefiawnce Of his Avisiown,
And that ȝe Wolden, for god Almyht,
It me declaren now Anon Riht;
For I have Ful longe In gret thowht be,
What signefiaunce it Mihte ben to Me.”
Thanne Answerid this good Man Agein,
“That schalt thow neuere weten In Certein
Into the tyme & Into that day
That this viande owt Of this plase the bringe away.
And thanne Schalt thow knowen [the certeinte]
What that thy vicioun doth signefe,
Al from begynneng to the Ende;
Thanne schalt thow knowen how it schal wende.
“And be this I Chastise the wel,
But from hens-forward, neuere Adel,
What Maner Merveilles that Euere thow se,
Loke that abasched no more thow be.
ȝit Merveilles here-Aftir schalt thou se,
As the vois In thy paleys told to the
Whanne Nasciens and thow On bedde were,
Vppon on Cowche liggeng there,
Where that ȝe fillen In Swownenge
For gret drede of that Noise herenge;
Where As the vois Seide In this manere,
‘Of more dredes & Merveilles scholen ȝe here
Thanne Euere ȝe diden to-fore this day:’
And thus the vois to ȝow gan Say.
Wheche is the wille of goddis sone,
That Alle these thinges scholen ben done,
And that here-After he wele Schewe
Swiche Merveilles vppon A rewe,—
To hem that him liketh ful wel,
They scholen hem sen Every del,—
The wheche, Alle Othere Merveille scholen pase
That Euere ȝit to forn tyme of ȝow sein wase;
And ȝif þou wilt In trewe Creaunce the holde,
And In herte stedfast stable and bolde;
What so euere hens-forward that thow se,
Ful wel from þe devel þou myht kepen the,
And more Stedfast to be In thi Creaunce,
What so befalle the In Ony Chawunce.
And hens-forward ȝif Oni Aventure Come to the
Be man Other womman, what so he be,
That faire Casten the forto deceyve,
Loke In Alle weye from hem thow weyve,
That nethir for ȝiftes ne for beheste,
Loke þou ne troste to leste ne meste;
Nethir for fair speche, ne Glosing,
From thi Creatour Make þou non parting.
But from hens-forward, neuere Adel,
280
Loke that abasched no more thow be.
ȝit Merveilles here-Aftir schalt thou se,
As the vois In thy paleys told to the
Whanne Nasciens and thow On bedde were,
Vppon on Cowche liggeng there,
Where that ȝe fillen In Swownenge
For gret drede of that Noise herenge;
Where As the vois Seide In this manere,
‘Of more dredes & Merveilles scholen ȝe here
Thanne Euere ȝe diden to-fore this day:’
And thus the vois to ȝow gan Say.
Wheche is the wille of goddis sone,
That Alle these thinges scholen ben done,
And that here-After he wele Schewe
Swiche Merveilles vppon A rewe,—
To hem that him liketh ful wel,
They scholen hem sen Every del,—
The wheche, Alle Othere Merveille scholen pase
That Euere ȝit to forn tyme of ȝow sein wase;
And ȝif þou wilt In trewe Creaunce the holde,
And In herte stedfast stable and bolde;
What so euere hens-forward that thow se,
Ful wel from þe devel þou myht kepen the,
And more Stedfast to be In thi Creaunce,
What so befalle the In Ony Chawunce.
And hens-forward ȝif Oni Aventure Come to the
Be man Other womman, what so he be,
That faire Casten the forto deceyve,
Loke In Alle weye from hem thow weyve,
That nethir for ȝiftes ne for beheste,
Loke þou ne troste to leste ne meste;
Nethir for fair speche, ne Glosing,
From thi Creatour Make þou non parting.
“And loke that thow have Evere In thy Mynde
The dede of Adam þi form fadir be kynde,
How that be the devel deceyved he was,
And owt of paradis Cast, þat blessid plas;
For he fulfilled the devellis wylle
Be Counseil of his wif, wheche was ylle.
The dede of Adam þi form fadir be kynde,
281
And owt of paradis Cast, þat blessid plas;
For he fulfilled the devellis wylle
Be Counseil of his wif, wheche was ylle.
“And loke that thow have this In Remembrawnce,
What so the behappe In Oni Chaunce;
And therby myhtest thow knowen ful wel
Alle Manere of Cownseilles Everidel,
Whethir it be for good Oþer for ille,
Oþer the forto save, Owther forto spille.
What so the behappe In Oni Chaunce;
And therby myhtest thow knowen ful wel
Alle Manere of Cownseilles Everidel,
Whethir it be for good Oþer for ille,
Oþer the forto save, Owther forto spille.
“And for thow scholdest knowen Alle thing
That scholde ben to thi lordes plesing,
Therfore schalt thow leven non Cownsaille
That to his wille scholde dis-Availle;
And thowh they the behoten ȝiftes & Richesse,
Be war, putte not þe in distresse
Forto don Aȝens his plesinge;
Be war þere-offen Ouer Alle thinge.
And bethenke the Alwey In thy Mynde,
That Erthly ȝiftes ben not so kynde
As ben the ȝiftes Of hevenly good,
Hos that it wel vndirstood;
For Erthely ȝiftes ben freel & Mevable,
& hevenely ben stedfast & Euere durable.
And loke thow that now hens-forward,
Of these ȝiftes that thow take good Award,
And thow take not On ȝifte for Anothir,
Be war ther-Offen for Ony Othir;
Sethen thow knowest whiche ther be,
The goode thou take, the Evele thow fle.
And be this, Alle wikked temptaciouns
From the Scholen passen, and trebulaciouns;
And to Evere lastyng Consail þou schalt be take,
And be browht from wo & wrake.”
That scholde ben to thi lordes plesing,
Therfore schalt thow leven non Cownsaille
That to his wille scholde dis-Availle;
And thowh they the behoten ȝiftes & Richesse,
Be war, putte not þe in distresse
Forto don Aȝens his plesinge;
Be war þere-offen Ouer Alle thinge.
And bethenke the Alwey In thy Mynde,
That Erthly ȝiftes ben not so kynde
As ben the ȝiftes Of hevenly good,
Hos that it wel vndirstood;
For Erthely ȝiftes ben freel & Mevable,
& hevenely ben stedfast & Euere durable.
And loke thow that now hens-forward,
Of these ȝiftes that thow take good Award,
And thow take not On ȝifte for Anothir,
Be war ther-Offen for Ony Othir;
Sethen thow knowest whiche ther be,
The goode thou take, the Evele thow fle.
And be this, Alle wikked temptaciouns
From the Scholen passen, and trebulaciouns;
And to Evere lastyng Consail þou schalt be take,
And be browht from wo & wrake.”
And there Ryht thus In this Manere
This goode Man of the schipe to hym spak there;
Ful Mochel his wordis liked him tho,
And to gret prophit torned hym Also.
This goode Man of the schipe to hym spak there;
282
And to gret prophit torned hym Also.
Thanne Atte laste-Axede hym the kyng,
‘How long In that Roche scholde ben his dwellyng.’
Thanne Answerid the good man A-gayn,
“In this Roche Schalt thow byden Certain
Tyl that the devel Owt the take be þe left hond,
And the Roche to forsake, thou it vndirstond;
For Erst Owt Of this Roche shalt þou not fle;
And of Al this, Sekir Mihtest now thow be.”
Thanne was the kyng Abasched ful sore,
Of the wordis that he thanne spak thore:
That the devel Owt Of the Roche him scholde brynge:
It was to him tho An hevy tydynge;
Thannece to the Erthe he fil Anon,
And ful gret Morneng him fil vppon.
And In this Mene whille tho
This good man to the schipe gan go.
‘How long In that Roche scholde ben his dwellyng.’
Thanne Answerid the good man A-gayn,
“In this Roche Schalt thow byden Certain
Tyl that the devel Owt the take be þe left hond,
And the Roche to forsake, thou it vndirstond;
For Erst Owt Of this Roche shalt þou not fle;
And of Al this, Sekir Mihtest now thow be.”
Thanne was the kyng Abasched ful sore,
Of the wordis that he thanne spak thore:
That the devel Owt Of the Roche him scholde brynge:
It was to him tho An hevy tydynge;
Thannece to the Erthe he fil Anon,
And ful gret Morneng him fil vppon.
And In this Mene whille tho
This good man to the schipe gan go.
Anon As he Owt of his thowht Awook.
Vp gan he stonde, and Abowtes him look,
And Nethir Man ne Schipe Sawh he,
As fer As he loked Into the Se;
For In the same Maner As he to-fore wente,
Riht so dide he tho to his Entente.
Vp gan he stonde, and Abowtes him look,
And Nethir Man ne Schipe Sawh he,
As fer As he loked Into the Se;
For In the same Maner As he to-fore wente,
Riht so dide he tho to his Entente.
Thanne this kyng Merveilled wondir sore
What Manere Of Man that this were
That so him Certefyed Of Alle thing,
As wel Of begynneng As Of the Endyng.
Thanne ful sore him self he gan to blame,
That he ne hadde Enqwered his Name,
And Enserched what he hadde be,
Owther God, Owther Man In Ony degre;
Evere vppon this point ful sore he thowhte,
That theke Man to knowen Myhte he Nowhte.
ȝit Anothir thing him Rewede sore tho,
Whanne that this good man was Ago,
That he ne hadde Enqwerid of him there,
ȝif he scholde han lyved In that Manere,
Tyl that to him he hadde Comen Ageine,’
And this of him forgat he to Refreine.
What Manere Of Man that this were
That so him Certefyed Of Alle thing,
As wel Of begynneng As Of the Endyng.
Thanne ful sore him self he gan to blame,
That he ne hadde Enqwered his Name,
And Enserched what he hadde be,
Owther God, Owther Man In Ony degre;
Evere vppon this point ful sore he thowhte,
That theke Man to knowen Myhte he Nowhte.
ȝit Anothir thing him Rewede sore tho,
Whanne that this good man was Ago,
283
ȝif he scholde han lyved In that Manere,
Tyl that to him he hadde Comen Ageine,’
And this of him forgat he to Refreine.
Al thus the kyng longe to him Self spak,
Til Atte laste he herde A gret Noise with-owten lak,
Cryeng of wawes Of the se;
But ful gretly he Merveilled what it myhte be.
Thanne he gan him to dressen Anone
Vpward, & Into the Se he loked ful sone,
And westward him thowhte Cam seilyng þere
The same schipe, & In the selve Manere,
That the faire womman Cam In to-fore,
Where-Offen Abasched he was ful sore;
For he him dradde sore, as he stoode,
That sche ne Cam for none Goode.
Til Atte laste he herde A gret Noise with-owten lak,
Cryeng of wawes Of the se;
But ful gretly he Merveilled what it myhte be.
Thanne he gan him to dressen Anone
Vpward, & Into the Se he loked ful sone,
And westward him thowhte Cam seilyng þere
The same schipe, & In the selve Manere,
That the faire womman Cam In to-fore,
Where-Offen Abasched he was ful sore;
For he him dradde sore, as he stoode,
That sche ne Cam for none Goode.
Thanne to God preyde he ful faste,
His sowle forto kepen, so was he Agaste;
What so Evere become Of his flesch
He ne Rowhte, wheþer hard Oþer Nesch.
And thus In his preieres was he stedfast
Al the while thar It Myht last,
That of his goode purpos not left schold he be;
Thus preide he to God In Maieste.
His sowle forto kepen, so was he Agaste;
What so Evere become Of his flesch
He ne Rowhte, wheþer hard Oþer Nesch.
And thus In his preieres was he stedfast
Al the while thar It Myht last,
That of his goode purpos not left schold he be;
Thus preide he to God In Maieste.
And whanne his Orisown thus was I-do,
Into the Est Anon he torned him tho,
And there Anon Made he his devociown—
In Minde of Ierusalem, that worthy town
Where-Inne thei gonnen Crist Crucifye,
That blessid body, the Sone Of Marye,—
Owt Of his Caytyvite him forto bringe,
& deliueraunce of the womman that was Comenge.
Into the Est Anon he torned him tho,
And there Anon Made he his devociown—
In Minde of Ierusalem, that worthy town
Where-Inne thei gonnen Crist Crucifye,
That blessid body, the Sone Of Marye,—
Owt Of his Caytyvite him forto bringe,
& deliueraunce of the womman that was Comenge.
With this Cam þe Schipe to þe Roche Anon
Also faste As it Myhte gon,
Also & as Riche As it was Ere;
Thus there him thowhte In Alle Manere.
And whanne to the Roche Aryved sche was,
Owt of þe schipe sche Cometh a ful gret pas;
But the king ȝaf hire þere non Greting,
Ne non Word to hire spak At here Comeng.
And whanne sche Sawh þat he wolde not speke,
Anon there sche gan to him Reke,
And gan him Axen ‘how he hadde fare
Sethen the tyme sche was last thare.’
Anon he seide, ‘sche ne hadde not to do
Of no thing him to Refreinen so;’
And Oþer Answere tho hadde sche non;
Ches whethir sche wolde Abyden Oþer gon.
Also faste As it Myhte gon,
Also & as Riche As it was Ere;
Thus there him thowhte In Alle Manere.
284
Owt of þe schipe sche Cometh a ful gret pas;
But the king ȝaf hire þere non Greting,
Ne non Word to hire spak At here Comeng.
And whanne sche Sawh þat he wolde not speke,
Anon there sche gan to him Reke,
And gan him Axen ‘how he hadde fare
Sethen the tyme sche was last thare.’
Anon he seide, ‘sche ne hadde not to do
Of no thing him to Refreinen so;’
And Oþer Answere tho hadde sche non;
Ches whethir sche wolde Abyden Oþer gon.
And whanne sche him herde thus Answere,
Anon to lawhen be-gan sche there:
“Kyng Eualach,” sche seide, “I se by the,
Thow hast lost bothe mynde & Memore;
For sethen that thou took this CreAunce,
The hath behapped ful Mochel Noisaunce,
Ful Mochel sorwe and trebulaciown,
And ȝit Mochel More is the forto Com,
And ȝit there-offen ȝevest þou neuere Adel,
But, As me Semeth, it liketh the wel
As Ony worschepe þat Evere haddest þou,
And as moche it were for thy prow.
Neuertheles thanne, I kan the telle
Tydinges newe, bothe fresch & snelle,
That I have sein with bothe Myn Eyen;
For it is ful soth I schal the seyen.
Streyht from sarras I come to the;
That I schal Sein, thow myht leven me;
For wete thow wel Ful Certeinle,
That ded Is thi goode frend Seraphe;
For Neuere schalt thow him se with Eye,
Neþer Saracynte thy qwene, Certeinlie.”
Anon to lawhen be-gan sche there:
“Kyng Eualach,” sche seide, “I se by the,
Thow hast lost bothe mynde & Memore;
For sethen that thou took this CreAunce,
The hath behapped ful Mochel Noisaunce,
Ful Mochel sorwe and trebulaciown,
And ȝit Mochel More is the forto Com,
And ȝit there-offen ȝevest þou neuere Adel,
But, As me Semeth, it liketh the wel
As Ony worschepe þat Evere haddest þou,
And as moche it were for thy prow.
Neuertheles thanne, I kan the telle
Tydinges newe, bothe fresch & snelle,
That I have sein with bothe Myn Eyen;
For it is ful soth I schal the seyen.
Streyht from sarras I come to the;
That I schal Sein, thow myht leven me;
For wete thow wel Ful Certeinle,
That ded Is thi goode frend Seraphe;
For Neuere schalt thow him se with Eye,
Neþer Saracynte thy qwene, Certeinlie.”
Whanne that the kyng thus herde here seyn,
Anon fowle Astoned was he tho Certein;
But ȝit Neuertheles he ne leved it Nowht,
So Mochel On Jesus Crist was his thowht;
But for the grete love þat he hadde to his wif
And to his brothir, with-Owten Strif,
That Cawsed him moche more mone to Make
For his Qweene & sire Nasciens Sake.
But for Owht that sche Cowde sein him to,
Owt [from] that Roche Nolde he not Go.
Anon fowle Astoned was he tho Certein;
285
So Mochel On Jesus Crist was his thowht;
But for the grete love þat he hadde to his wif
And to his brothir, with-Owten Strif,
That Cawsed him moche more mone to Make
For his Qweene & sire Nasciens Sake.
But for Owht that sche Cowde sein him to,
Owt [from] that Roche Nolde he not Go.
And whanne sche Saw that with non falsnesse
Him Ouercome ne bringen In distresse,
Sche bad him ‘Come sen the Riche thinge
That In that schipe sche dide him bringe.’
Thanne to hire seide the kyng Ageyn,
þat “In the Schipe I ne wele not Comen Certein,
Ne for non thing that thow kanst do,
Owt from this Roch I wele nowht go.”
Thanne Onkeuered sche the schipe In haste,
And preide him loken Atte laste.
Thanne the kyng loked In for the Nones,
Where-Inne he sawh many preciows stones,
As that him thowhte there to his Eye,
And mochel Other Richesse Sekerlye.
“Lo, kyng Eualach, thow wenest that I be
For non goodnesse I-comen to the;
But ful wel mystest thow weten & knowe,
That Al this Richesse þat here Is On A rowe
May Not Comen from non Evel plase,—
For ful mochel Ioie there is, there this wase,—
And ȝif thow wilt with me now go,
Owther My Cownseil Assentyn vnto,
Al this Richesse schalt thow have,
And ȝit Mochel more ȝif þou wilt Crave.”
Him Ouercome ne bringen In distresse,
Sche bad him ‘Come sen the Riche thinge
That In that schipe sche dide him bringe.’
Thanne to hire seide the kyng Ageyn,
þat “In the Schipe I ne wele not Comen Certein,
Ne for non thing that thow kanst do,
Owt from this Roch I wele nowht go.”
Thanne Onkeuered sche the schipe In haste,
And preide him loken Atte laste.
Thanne the kyng loked In for the Nones,
Where-Inne he sawh many preciows stones,
As that him thowhte there to his Eye,
And mochel Other Richesse Sekerlye.
“Lo, kyng Eualach, thow wenest that I be
For non goodnesse I-comen to the;
But ful wel mystest thow weten & knowe,
That Al this Richesse þat here Is On A rowe
May Not Comen from non Evel plase,—
For ful mochel Ioie there is, there this wase,—
And ȝif thow wilt with me now go,
Owther My Cownseil Assentyn vnto,
Al this Richesse schalt thow have,
And ȝit Mochel more ȝif þou wilt Crave.”
Lo Al this Counseil ȝaf this wommanne
To this kyng Eualach there thanne;
But for alle hire wordis & hire faire promyse,
Thens wold he not Gon In non wyse;
And ȝit ful moche distorbeled he was
For his qweene & Seraphe In that plas.
To this kyng Eualach there thanne;
But for alle hire wordis & hire faire promyse,
Thens wold he not Gon In non wyse;
286
For his qweene & Seraphe In that plas.
And whanne sche beheld him Atte laste,
That In his Creaunce he was so stedfaste,
So whanne that Eualach sche Cald him there,
For that Name he wolde not Answere;
For, he seide, the devel he hadde forsake,
And Onlych to God be baptem him take;
Thanne Gan sche to lawghen Eft sone,
And seide, “Eualach, litel hast thou to done;
For be that Name, I the now Say,
Worschepe and Conqwest hast þou geten mani day;
But be that whiche now thow hast to Name,
Ne Gote thow neuere but thowht, sorewe, & schame.”
That In his Creaunce he was so stedfaste,
So whanne that Eualach sche Cald him there,
For that Name he wolde not Answere;
For, he seide, the devel he hadde forsake,
And Onlych to God be baptem him take;
Thanne Gan sche to lawghen Eft sone,
And seide, “Eualach, litel hast thou to done;
For be that Name, I the now Say,
Worschepe and Conqwest hast þou geten mani day;
But be that whiche now thow hast to Name,
Ne Gote thow neuere but thowht, sorewe, & schame.”
Ful longe it lasted, this temptacioun
Toward this kyng with gret tribulaciown,
That so sche him Reproved of his distresse,
Of his Angwisch, & of his porenesse.
And Euere Answerid this kyng Agein,
Onlich Of goddis myht tho In Certein,
And Also of Goddis Rihtful Creaunce,
“Whiche that I wil holden with-Owten variaunce;
And for Alle the ȝiftes & the beheste,
Neþer for Alle the Richesse, lest ne Meste,
Ne schal me tornen Owt Of my thowht
From him that me dere hath bowht.”
Whanne þat sche sawgh that in non degre
Owt Of that Roche to don him fle,
Nethir for ȝiftes ne non qweintise,
Ne for non thing þat sche Cowde devise,
Thanne Anon to þe Schipe sche torned Agein.
As to fore tymes sche dide ful pleyn.
Toward this kyng with gret tribulaciown,
That so sche him Reproved of his distresse,
Of his Angwisch, & of his porenesse.
And Euere Answerid this kyng Agein,
Onlich Of goddis myht tho In Certein,
And Also of Goddis Rihtful Creaunce,
“Whiche that I wil holden with-Owten variaunce;
And for Alle the ȝiftes & the beheste,
Neþer for Alle the Richesse, lest ne Meste,
Ne schal me tornen Owt Of my thowht
From him that me dere hath bowht.”
Whanne þat sche sawgh that in non degre
Owt Of that Roche to don him fle,
Nethir for ȝiftes ne non qweintise,
Ne for non thing þat sche Cowde devise,
Thanne Anon to þe Schipe sche torned Agein.
As to fore tymes sche dide ful pleyn.
Anon Riht thanne As sche was Gon,
A fowl strong tempest there Ros Anon,
Riht As fowl & hidows it was thore
As it was the tother day there before.
A fowl strong tempest there Ros Anon,
Riht As fowl & hidows it was thore
As it was the tother day there before.
287
Thanne here-Offen Merveilled þe kyng Anon
How that this womman was so gon,
And that Al the Richesse hadde him browht,
Whethir that it were Owht Oþer nowht,
And that In schort while sche hadde I-be
At Sarras, & to him I-comen thedir Aȝe,
“The wheche xvij dayes iourne scholde be
As to forn tymes sche told it to Me.”
How that this womman was so gon,
And that Al the Richesse hadde him browht,
Whethir that it were Owht Oþer nowht,
And that In schort while sche hadde I-be
At Sarras, & to him I-comen thedir Aȝe,
“The wheche xvij dayes iourne scholde be
As to forn tymes sche told it to Me.”
And whanne this tempest he Sawh thus fare,
In his herte he hadde ful Mochel care;
And so gret dirknesse fil him vpon,
That sihte there myhte he sen non,
But ȝif it were tyme of lyghteneng
That to him Cam beforn the thondring;
And Evere this tempest trowbled faste,
That seker, Euere he wende it wold han laste.
In his herte he hadde ful Mochel care;
And so gret dirknesse fil him vpon,
That sihte there myhte he sen non,
But ȝif it were tyme of lyghteneng
That to him Cam beforn the thondring;
And Evere this tempest trowbled faste,
That seker, Euere he wende it wold han laste.
And whiles he was In this thenkyng,
Him thowhte he herde A wondir sowneng
Wheche that scholde Comen from An hy.
As tho him thowhte ful trewely;
So, what for ferd & for that sown
Streiht to the Erthe he fyl Adown,
That he ne myht steren foot ne hond,
Nethir non lyme where-Onne to stonde,
But that Onne this, with his hondis two,
To the Greces of the Roche he Cleved tho.
Him thowhte he herde A wondir sowneng
Wheche that scholde Comen from An hy.
As tho him thowhte ful trewely;
So, what for ferd & for that sown
Streiht to the Erthe he fyl Adown,
That he ne myht steren foot ne hond,
Nethir non lyme where-Onne to stonde,
But that Onne this, with his hondis two,
To the Greces of the Roche he Cleved tho.
And whiles that he lay In this degre,
Anon A thondir Clape Cam there fle,
That Al the heyest partye of that Roche Anon
Into the se-botme gan forto gon,
So that there lefte but a litel spase
The kyng Onne to Reste þat there wase;
And the Remnaunt that was smeten Away,
Was neuere more sein Into this day.
Anon the kyng for drede fil there A-down,
Ful longe there liggeng In a swown.
Anon A thondir Clape Cam there fle,
That Al the heyest partye of that Roche Anon
Into the se-botme gan forto gon,
So that there lefte but a litel spase
The kyng Onne to Reste þat there wase;
And the Remnaunt that was smeten Away,
Was neuere more sein Into this day.
Anon the kyng for drede fil there A-down,
288
Whanne Owt of his swowneng Awaked was he
Thorgwh the Comforteng Of the Maiestie,
Al the tempest was Ouer gon,
That noise ne thondring herde he non;
Therto the See, In pesible stat it was,
That to fore tyme was hidows in þat plas,
So that of tempest herd he neuere A del,
Wheche to forn times he herde ful wel.
Thorgwh the Comforteng Of the Maiestie,
Al the tempest was Ouer gon,
That noise ne thondring herde he non;
Therto the See, In pesible stat it was,
That to fore tyme was hidows in þat plas,
So that of tempest herd he neuere A del,
Wheche to forn times he herde ful wel.
Thanne Abowtes him loked he ful faste,
And the Roche he Missede atte laste,
Whiche þat was the heyest partye;
Thanne In his herte hadde he gret Anoye,
And In his Mynde was gretly Abascht,
How that Roche was so de-dascht.
And the Roche he Missede atte laste,
Whiche þat was the heyest partye;
Thanne In his herte hadde he gret Anoye,
And In his Mynde was gretly Abascht,
How that Roche was so de-dascht.
Thanne Anon gan he forto Make
The signe Of the Crois, for Owre lordis sake;
Bothe vppon his hed and vppon his body
He made the Signe of God Almyghty,
And besowhte God, for his special grace,
Him to Comforte & kepen, In that place,
In Riht wit, Mynde, & Memorye;
Thus this kyng tho to God gan Crye.
The signe Of the Crois, for Owre lordis sake;
Bothe vppon his hed and vppon his body
He made the Signe of God Almyghty,
And besowhte God, for his special grace,
Him to Comforte & kepen, In that place,
In Riht wit, Mynde, & Memorye;
Thus this kyng tho to God gan Crye.
And whanne thus his preieres he hadde I-do,
A wondirful lust thanne Cam him to,
That he moste slepen Nedelye,
As here vs telleth this storye;
So that On the Roche there he slepte,
Vppon swich A spas As him was lefte;
And whanne Of his slepe þat he A-wook,
Swich An hunger there him took,
That him thowghte ded forto be,
But ȝif of Mete he hadde plente.
And whanne thus longe ne had mad his Mone
To him Self there Al Alone
Of his Misaise and hunger ful strong,
So þat lyven him thowghte myhte he not long:
And as Abowtes him he lokede there,
He say, him thowghte, In a qweynt Manere,
Ligeng vppon A grees Of ston,
A wondir blak lof there Anon;
And whanne this lof beheld he tho,
A wondir strong pas he gan forto go
To-ward thike lof, [it] for to take,
Lik As gret hunger it gan to Make.
A wondirful lust thanne Cam him to,
That he moste slepen Nedelye,
As here vs telleth this storye;
So that On the Roche there he slepte,
Vppon swich A spas As him was lefte;
And whanne Of his slepe þat he A-wook,
Swich An hunger there him took,
That him thowghte ded forto be,
But ȝif of Mete he hadde plente.
And whanne thus longe ne had mad his Mone
To him Self there Al Alone
Of his Misaise and hunger ful strong,
So þat lyven him thowghte myhte he not long:
289
He say, him thowghte, In a qweynt Manere,
Ligeng vppon A grees Of ston,
A wondir blak lof there Anon;
And whanne this lof beheld he tho,
A wondir strong pas he gan forto go
To-ward thike lof, [it] for to take,
Lik As gret hunger it gan to Make.
And whanne he hadde it In his hond,
It forto breken tho gan he fond;
But therto hadde he no Miht;
But al hol to his Mowth Anon riht
He it there putte, to han biten vppon;
And therto his Mowth he Openede Anon.
It forto breken tho gan he fond;
But therto hadde he no Miht;
But al hol to his Mowth Anon riht
He it there putte, to han biten vppon;
And therto his Mowth he Openede Anon.
And In the Mene whille him thowghte he herde
A wondirful noise, and qweyntely Ferde,
As thowgh Alle the fowles of the Eyr
To him ward they gonnen Repeire;
For wheche gret drede In that Manere
Anon his hed he lefte vp there;
And to him there Cam discending Adown
A merveillous fowl with a wondirful sown;
For so wondirful he was, & so divers,
That neuere to forn tyme tonge Cowde Rehers;
The hed of him was as blak As pich,
Ne non Othir Colowr was it lich;
And therto, bothe his Eyen & his teeth,
As brennenge Fir forsothe they beth;
But the schape Of his hed, it was
Lik An Orible dragon In that plas,
And therto two hornes In his hed;
It was A wondirful sihte In that sted:
Also A ful long nekke like to a dragown;
A wondirful brid, & of a qweynte faciown;
His brest lik a lyown Schapen was there;
His feet like an Egle In A qweynte Manere;
And from þe Joyntes Of his feet to þe scholdres vpriht.
Wondirful wynges, & swyft to flyht,—
As swift they weren In alle thing
As to-forn the thondir is the lyhgtenyng—
And therto As hard As Ony steel,
As scharpe As A Rasowr bytyng ful wel;
Therto his fetheris white weren Also,
As scharpe as storm Of hail therto;
And whanne that scharply he fyl A-down,
This ilke brid made A wondirful sown.
A wondirful noise, and qweyntely Ferde,
As thowgh Alle the fowles of the Eyr
To him ward they gonnen Repeire;
For wheche gret drede In that Manere
Anon his hed he lefte vp there;
And to him there Cam discending Adown
A merveillous fowl with a wondirful sown;
For so wondirful he was, & so divers,
That neuere to forn tyme tonge Cowde Rehers;
The hed of him was as blak As pich,
Ne non Othir Colowr was it lich;
And therto, bothe his Eyen & his teeth,
As brennenge Fir forsothe they beth;
But the schape Of his hed, it was
Lik An Orible dragon In that plas,
And therto two hornes In his hed;
It was A wondirful sihte In that sted:
Also A ful long nekke like to a dragown;
A wondirful brid, & of a qweynte faciown;
His brest lik a lyown Schapen was there;
His feet like an Egle In A qweynte Manere;
290
Wondirful wynges, & swyft to flyht,—
As swift they weren In alle thing
As to-forn the thondir is the lyhgtenyng—
And therto As hard As Ony steel,
As scharpe As A Rasowr bytyng ful wel;
Therto his fetheris white weren Also,
As scharpe as storm Of hail therto;
And whanne that scharply he fyl A-down,
This ilke brid made A wondirful sown.
And therto the bek of his hed that was there,
It was as scharpe As Ony spere,
And Also brennenge, vppon forto se,
As lyghteneng that to-fore þe thondir doth fle.
It was as scharpe As Ony spere,
And Also brennenge, vppon forto se,
As lyghteneng that to-fore þe thondir doth fle.
Uppon this Maner, lik As ȝe here,
Was this brid On this Manere,
As Recordeth here the devyn storye
That to vs hath put In Memorye;
So that this Bryd ne fleeth be non weye,
But that alle briddis & bestes of hym haven Eye;
Be whom, þe Saviour Of al this world
In this brid scheweth, be his Owen Acord,
Bothe his miht & Ek his drede;
And alle Creatures of hym took hede;
For that brid is so dowted, I telle it the,
That be what weye that Evere he fle,
Bothe brid & beste they don him fle,
Lik as be figiure I schal Schewen to þe:
Behold, how þat derknesse to forn þe sonne doth fle,
Riht so Alle briddes & bestes, I telle it the,
So fleen the sihte Of this brid, lo,
That to forn tymes I declared ȝow so.
Was this brid On this Manere,
As Recordeth here the devyn storye
That to vs hath put In Memorye;
So that this Bryd ne fleeth be non weye,
But that alle briddis & bestes of hym haven Eye;
Be whom, þe Saviour Of al this world
In this brid scheweth, be his Owen Acord,
Bothe his miht & Ek his drede;
And alle Creatures of hym took hede;
For that brid is so dowted, I telle it the,
That be what weye that Evere he fle,
Bothe brid & beste they don him fle,
Lik as be figiure I schal Schewen to þe:
Behold, how þat derknesse to forn þe sonne doth fle,
Riht so Alle briddes & bestes, I telle it the,
So fleen the sihte Of this brid, lo,
That to forn tymes I declared ȝow so.
And of swich kynde this brid it is,
That As thre to-gederes with-Owten Mis—
As the Scripture Recordith now here—
That As thre Oueral he flikth In fere,
Lik as he that of a womman was born
With-Owten compeine of Man, As I have rehersed beforn;
And whanne Redy to ben born they be,
Of A wondirful kynde this storie scheweth to me;
For so Cold they been In Alle thing there,
That non wiht duren it May In non Manere,
Sawfe Only the modir of the same,
Wihche is a brid of a Merveillous fame;
For whanne this long suffred hath sche,
And non lengere with that Cold may sche be,
Hire Eyren sche leveth, & taketh hire flyht
Into a fer Contre there Anon Ryht,
Where that sche hopeth forto fynde
A precious ston of Merveillous kynde,
Wheche In the vale of Ebron is at alle dayes,
Of a wondirful kynde, as the storye sayes;
For Of his owne kynde he is so hot,
That non man therwith him self dar frot
Til it gynne Chawfe Of his Owne kynde,
Thus fareth theke ston So good & hende.
For there as Cold is, it loketh pale,
As kynde telleth vs be Olde tale;
And whanne Cold thing A-chawfed is Owht,
Anon to Red Colowr it is I-browht;
And thus be frotyng Of that ston,
It be-Cometh Red as Ony Blood Anon.
That As thre to-gederes with-Owten Mis—
291
That As thre Oueral he flikth In fere,
Lik as he that of a womman was born
With-Owten compeine of Man, As I have rehersed beforn;
And whanne Redy to ben born they be,
Of A wondirful kynde this storie scheweth to me;
For so Cold they been In Alle thing there,
That non wiht duren it May In non Manere,
Sawfe Only the modir of the same,
Wihche is a brid of a Merveillous fame;
For whanne this long suffred hath sche,
And non lengere with that Cold may sche be,
Hire Eyren sche leveth, & taketh hire flyht
Into a fer Contre there Anon Ryht,
Where that sche hopeth forto fynde
A precious ston of Merveillous kynde,
Wheche In the vale of Ebron is at alle dayes,
Of a wondirful kynde, as the storye sayes;
For Of his owne kynde he is so hot,
That non man therwith him self dar frot
Til it gynne Chawfe Of his Owne kynde,
Thus fareth theke ston So good & hende.
For there as Cold is, it loketh pale,
As kynde telleth vs be Olde tale;
And whanne Cold thing A-chawfed is Owht,
Anon to Red Colowr it is I-browht;
292
It be-Cometh Red as Ony Blood Anon.
And whanne this brid this ston hath fownde,
Therwith sche hire Chafeth In that stownde;
And litel & litel sche schawfeth hire so,
Til that hire Cold be ful nygh Ago.
And ȝit In hire beek sche taketh it thore,
And hire self doth chawfe ȝit wel more;
And ȝit sche thinketh ful litel there
For the grete Cold þat sche soffred Ere;
And whanne that hete sche feleth plente,
Aȝen to hire Eyren thanne doth sche fle.
Therwith sche hire Chafeth In that stownde;
And litel & litel sche schawfeth hire so,
Til that hire Cold be ful nygh Ago.
And ȝit In hire beek sche taketh it thore,
And hire self doth chawfe ȝit wel more;
And ȝit sche thinketh ful litel there
For the grete Cold þat sche soffred Ere;
And whanne that hete sche feleth plente,
Aȝen to hire Eyren thanne doth sche fle.
Whanne that In place sche cometh there
As to forn tymes hire Eyren were,
So hot sche semeth to been with-Inne,
That Al hire body on fyr doth brenne,
That hire Self helpen sche ne May,
So hot sche is with-Inne, þe sothe to say;
And therfore thanne weneth sche
That hire Eyren Alle I-brend scholde be,
So that sche withdraweth hire there fro,
And with hire body not neigheth hem tho,
But þat A good spas from hire nest,
As hire self it liketh hire best;
So þat be the hete of hire body so fer fro,
Hire briddes sche bringeth forth Alle þo,
That for Cold scholden Ellis dye:
This is here kynde ful Certeinlie.
As to forn tymes hire Eyren were,
So hot sche semeth to been with-Inne,
That Al hire body on fyr doth brenne,
That hire Self helpen sche ne May,
So hot sche is with-Inne, þe sothe to say;
And therfore thanne weneth sche
That hire Eyren Alle I-brend scholde be,
So that sche withdraweth hire there fro,
And with hire body not neigheth hem tho,
But þat A good spas from hire nest,
As hire self it liketh hire best;
So þat be the hete of hire body so fer fro,
Hire briddes sche bringeth forth Alle þo,
That for Cold scholden Ellis dye:
This is here kynde ful Certeinlie.
And thus, thorwgh Chawfyng of this ston,
The Modir to powdir is brend Anon.
The Modir to powdir is brend Anon.
And whanne hire briddes thus browht forth be,
Abowtes the Asches of hire Modir gonne they fle,
And there-Offen taken here sustenawnce
That was theke tyme to here plesaunce,
Tyl that they haven bothe lif & membres:
Thus Eten they of here Moder Syndres.
Abowtes the Asches of hire Modir gonne they fle,
And there-Offen taken here sustenawnce
That was theke tyme to here plesaunce,
Tyl that they haven bothe lif & membres:
Thus Eten they of here Moder Syndres.
293
And whanne Alle they ben Eton Echon,
The Syndres Of here Modir, & not þeroffen left on.
Anon So prowde they wexen Alle thre,
That prowdere briddes ne Mown neuere be;
Thanne Comen the tweyne that males be,
That neither Other may suffre In non degre;
And whanne here ful strengthe fully they have,
Eche of hem Of þe thridde, Maistrie doth Crave,
To han the femele At his owne wille;
Thus to Othir forseth him vntille,
So that Anon, thorwgh gret pride,
The ton the tothir Sleth that tyde.
Scipilions, is Clepid this brid,
As thus In this storie it is red.
The Syndres Of here Modir, & not þeroffen left on.
Anon So prowde they wexen Alle thre,
That prowdere briddes ne Mown neuere be;
Thanne Comen the tweyne that males be,
That neither Other may suffre In non degre;
And whanne here ful strengthe fully they have,
Eche of hem Of þe thridde, Maistrie doth Crave,
To han the femele At his owne wille;
Thus to Othir forseth him vntille,
So that Anon, thorwgh gret pride,
The ton the tothir Sleth that tyde.
Scipilions, is Clepid this brid,
As thus In this storie it is red.
Swich was the brid that decendid þere
Down to the kyng In this Manere,
And smot the lof Owt Of his hond,
That to his mowth to putten gan he fond;
And Into the see he threw it there,
Riht fer In a Merveillows Manere.
Down to the kyng In this Manere,
And smot the lof Owt Of his hond,
That to his mowth to putten gan he fond;
And Into the see he threw it there,
Riht fer In a Merveillows Manere.
And whanne he hadde so I-do,
He took his flyht, & fleygh him fro;
And Aftirwardis he torned Ageyn,
And the kyng to the Erthe was fallen pleyn;
And with his Ryht wynge he smot him so
That his Clothes & his Skyn he barst vnto,
And from the haterel In to the foot,
Into the harde flesh that strok it bot;
And thanne this brid took forth his flyht
From that kyng Anon Tho Ryht.
He took his flyht, & fleygh him fro;
And Aftirwardis he torned Ageyn,
And the kyng to the Erthe was fallen pleyn;
And with his Ryht wynge he smot him so
That his Clothes & his Skyn he barst vnto,
And from the haterel In to the foot,
Into the harde flesh that strok it bot;
And thanne this brid took forth his flyht
From that kyng Anon Tho Ryht.
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And þe kyng In swowneng at the Erthe lay,
For drede & sorwe of that grete Afray,
Tyl that the day was Nygh Agon,
And the Nyht faste Entrede vppon.
For drede & sorwe of that grete Afray,
Tyl that the day was Nygh Agon,
And the Nyht faste Entrede vppon.
And whanne he was waked of his swowneng,
Ful feint & feble he was In alle thing,
That of the grete hunger he hadde to fore,
Whiche that him Greved so sore,
Thowgh Alle worldly mete thanne had he sein,
There-Offen to Ete he ne mythe Certein.
Ful feint & feble he was In alle thing,
That of the grete hunger he hadde to fore,
Whiche that him Greved so sore,
Thowgh Alle worldly mete thanne had he sein,
There-Offen to Ete he ne mythe Certein.
And thus Abod he Al that Nyht
Tyl on the Morwe it was day lyht;
And whanne the day be-gan to dawe,
Thanne þeroffen was this kyng ful fawe.
Thanne he bethowghte him In his mynde
Of that brid so Merveillous of kynde,
That his lof so hadde Casten Away.
Many thankynges to God he ȝaf that day,
And seide, “lord God, I-worscheped thow be,
That from Alle these sorwes hast deliuered me,
& wilt that I do bigge my synne
Ere than I Owt Of this world twynne;
For swiche wordis Of solace ȝe han me sent,
That Of hunger have I lost myn talent,
Sowfe Only hunger Of sowle to susteyne;
Therfore, lord, I me to the Compleyne.
Now knowe I wel that this Maner thing
To me hidir Cam for non forthering,
But me to deceyven be weye of Richesse,
Be ȝiftes, Owther be fayr promesse;
And þerfore schal I neuere, In tyme comenge,
My Mowth to Opene for non Swich thing,
Thowgh the body Scholde suffren ded
Rathere thanne to Eten Ony bred,
But ȝif it be, lord, thorwgh thy sonde,
Ony to handelyn with Myn honde;
Ne neuere Owt of this Roch wele I gone,
But evere here dwellen Alone,
Tyl that, lord, thy wille It be,
Owt of this Roche to taken Me.”
Tyl on the Morwe it was day lyht;
And whanne the day be-gan to dawe,
Thanne þeroffen was this kyng ful fawe.
Thanne he bethowghte him In his mynde
Of that brid so Merveillous of kynde,
That his lof so hadde Casten Away.
Many thankynges to God he ȝaf that day,
And seide, “lord God, I-worscheped thow be,
That from Alle these sorwes hast deliuered me,
& wilt that I do bigge my synne
Ere than I Owt Of this world twynne;
For swiche wordis Of solace ȝe han me sent,
That Of hunger have I lost myn talent,
Sowfe Only hunger Of sowle to susteyne;
Therfore, lord, I me to the Compleyne.
Now knowe I wel that this Maner thing
To me hidir Cam for non forthering,
But me to deceyven be weye of Richesse,
Be ȝiftes, Owther be fayr promesse;
And þerfore schal I neuere, In tyme comenge,
My Mowth to Opene for non Swich thing,
Thowgh the body Scholde suffren ded
Rathere thanne to Eten Ony bred,
But ȝif it be, lord, thorwgh thy sonde,
Ony to handelyn with Myn honde;
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But evere here dwellen Alone,
Tyl that, lord, thy wille It be,
Owt of this Roche to taken Me.”
And thus vi dayes beleft the kyng
In that Roche, with-Owten lesyng;
And Eche Of these dayes Cam this good man,
And him comforted As he wel kan:
Thanne swed the womman After, Eche day,
Of him to fonde to geten hire pray.
In that Roche, with-Owten lesyng;
And Eche Of these dayes Cam this good man,
And him comforted As he wel kan:
Thanne swed the womman After, Eche day,
Of him to fonde to geten hire pray.
This Man Euere him tolde wordis Of Comfort
As Often As to him he gan Resort,
And Euere spak the womman of Noysaunce
To hym, And Euere Of distorbaunce.
And whanne it was Comen to þe seventhe day,
This good man to him Cam with-Owten delay,
And thus to him seide there in haste,
“Thin Owr of deliueraunce Aprocheth faste,
ȝif thow wilt hennes-forward
The kepen from temptaciou[n]s hard
Of the devel, whiche he wil Asaye
In many weyes the to be-traye.”
As Often As to him he gan Resort,
And Euere spak the womman of Noysaunce
To hym, And Euere Of distorbaunce.
And whanne it was Comen to þe seventhe day,
This good man to him Cam with-Owten delay,
And thus to him seide there in haste,
“Thin Owr of deliueraunce Aprocheth faste,
ȝif thow wilt hennes-forward
The kepen from temptaciou[n]s hard
Of the devel, whiche he wil Asaye
In many weyes the to be-traye.”
Thanne Axede him the kyng ‘In what Manere
From him he myhte defenden him there.’
Thanne seide Aȝen this goodman tho,
“Wrath-the not thy God, what so thow do,
And Owt Of this Roch deliuered schalt þou be
With-Inne schort tyme Certeinle;
But ȝit Manye dredes schalt thou se
Er that owt of þis Roche taken thow be.”
From him he myhte defenden him there.’
Thanne seide Aȝen this goodman tho,
“Wrath-the not thy God, what so thow do,
And Owt Of this Roch deliuered schalt þou be
With-Inne schort tyme Certeinle;
But ȝit Manye dredes schalt thou se
Er that owt of þis Roche taken thow be.”
Thanne thus partid this good man Away;
The kyng there lefte, sothe to say.
Ful glad & Joyful he was In herte,
That non thing ne myhte him smerte,
And thowhte, ‘thowgh that he schold dye,
Owt Of that Roche wolde he not hye,
But Rathere ded there he wolde be,
Thanne Owt of that Roche forto fle.’
The kyng there lefte, sothe to say.
Ful glad & Joyful he was In herte,
That non thing ne myhte him smerte,
And thowhte, ‘thowgh that he schold dye,
Owt Of that Roche wolde he not hye,
296
Thanne Owt of that Roche forto fle.’
Thus longe In this thowht gan he dwelle,
That Aftir tyme So it be-felle
He loked ful fer Into the See:
A fair Schipe Cam þere seylleng, thowht he;
bothe gret & Riche him thowghte it was;
bote neþer man ne womman In that plas
that Schipe to Governe, nethir to Gye,
thus him thowhte ful Certeinlye.
That Aftir tyme So it be-felle
He loked ful fer Into the See:
A fair Schipe Cam þere seylleng, thowht he;
bothe gret & Riche him thowghte it was;
bote neþer man ne womman In that plas
that Schipe to Governe, nethir to Gye,
thus him thowhte ful Certeinlye.
and whanne longe it hadde so go
In the hyghe See bothe to & fro,
atte laste towardis the Roche he drowgh
A ful gret speed, & faste I-nowgh.
In the hyghe See bothe to & fro,
atte laste towardis the Roche he drowgh
A ful gret speed, & faste I-nowgh.
and thus sone began there In the see
wondirful tempestes þere Anon to be,
So hidous & so Angwischous in eche Manere,
that so hidows tempest saw he neuere ere.
this tempest this Schipe to the Roche browhte,
that it scholde Alto-breken him thowghte;
It snew, & haillede, & thondrede faste,
So that þere was manie A bitter blaste,
So that it Semede that Al the firmament
On peces hadden borsten verament;
For he wende the Ende Of þe world þat day had be;
thus thowghte the kyng thanne ful sekerle.
wondirful tempestes þere Anon to be,
So hidous & so Angwischous in eche Manere,
that so hidows tempest saw he neuere ere.
this tempest this Schipe to the Roche browhte,
that it scholde Alto-breken him thowghte;
It snew, & haillede, & thondrede faste,
So that þere was manie A bitter blaste,
So that it Semede that Al the firmament
On peces hadden borsten verament;
For he wende the Ende Of þe world þat day had be;
thus thowghte the kyng thanne ful sekerle.
And the kyng in þat Roche had non sted
Where that he Myhte hyden In his hed,
For the part Of the Cave was blowen Away
Into the See, As ȝe han herd me Say.
And this faire Schipe beheld he thanne;
but he say nethir Man ne wommanne.
and so thikke Abowtes him Cam the thondring,
and Many A wondirful lyghteneng,
that Neuere he wende to asckapen thenne,
so wondirfully þe lyghtenyng gan to brenne;
thus Suffrede the kyng Al that tempest,
whiche After it torned him for the best;
Al this was disseisse to his herte,
for he soffred peynes Many & smerte;
but for alle the peynes he suffrede tho,
to the Schipe from the Roche wolde he not go.
Where that he Myhte hyden In his hed,
For the part Of the Cave was blowen Away
Into the See, As ȝe han herd me Say.
And this faire Schipe beheld he thanne;
but he say nethir Man ne wommanne.
and so thikke Abowtes him Cam the thondring,
and Many A wondirful lyghteneng,
that Neuere he wende to asckapen thenne,
so wondirfully þe lyghtenyng gan to brenne;
297
whiche After it torned him for the best;
Al this was disseisse to his herte,
for he soffred peynes Many & smerte;
but for alle the peynes he suffrede tho,
to the Schipe from the Roche wolde he not go.
And whanne this tempest hadde longe be,
thanne Atte laste gan stillen the See,
and the wedir to Cleren faire,
and the sonne to Schewen vppon the Ayre;
and whanne he sawgh the wedir thus slake,
Ful gret Ioye he gan tho to Make.
thanne Atte laste gan stillen the See,
and the wedir to Cleren faire,
and the sonne to Schewen vppon the Ayre;
and whanne he sawgh the wedir thus slake,
Ful gret Ioye he gan tho to Make.
thanne the Sonne there vppon him Schon,
and thanne the kyng lokid vp Anon,
and sawh his Clothes Al to-Rent,
where-Offen he Merveilled verament.
and thanne the kyng lokid vp Anon,
and sawh his Clothes Al to-Rent,
where-Offen he Merveilled verament.
and thanne so sore the Sonne chawfed him þere,
that he wende Al the Roche hadde ben on fere,
and that the sonne scholde han brend Alle thing,
Of this world to han Mad An Endeng.
and al was don for this Skele tho,
ȝif þe kyng Into the Schipe wolde han go,
Ferst for Cold, and sethen for hete;
but for nethir the kyng þe Roch wolde not lete;
for Rathere ded there wolde he han be,
thanne his lord to wraththen In Ony degre;
Oþer that from þe Roche he wolde gon,
Rathere the deth to suffren Anon.
that he wende Al the Roche hadde ben on fere,
and that the sonne scholde han brend Alle thing,
Of this world to han Mad An Endeng.
and al was don for this Skele tho,
ȝif þe kyng Into the Schipe wolde han go,
Ferst for Cold, and sethen for hete;
but for nethir the kyng þe Roch wolde not lete;
for Rathere ded there wolde he han be,
thanne his lord to wraththen In Ony degre;
Oþer that from þe Roche he wolde gon,
Rathere the deth to suffren Anon.
and thus In this Angwisch longe bod he there,
and In swowneng fyl In hard manere;
and so longe lay he Stille As A ston,
That wit, syghte, ne Mynde, haddë non.
And whanne that he of swowneng A-wook,
For drede & sorewe ful sore he qwook,
and lift vpe his hed, and beheld ful faste
ȝif that strong hete ȝit dide Owht laste.
and In swowneng fyl In hard manere;
and so longe lay he Stille As A ston,
That wit, syghte, ne Mynde, haddë non.
And whanne that he of swowneng A-wook,
For drede & sorewe ful sore he qwook,
and lift vpe his hed, and beheld ful faste
ȝif that strong hete ȝit dide Owht laste.
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and Whanne he sawh the day þat mesurable was,
and but Mesurable hete In that plas,
As betwenes noon & hevesong scholde be,
bothe glad & Ioyful thanne was he;
thanne Asaied he Anon vpe forto stonde,
For the vanite In his hed that hadde ben longe;
And whanne þat he gan vpe forto dresse,
In hed, body, ne Membres, felt he non Siknesse.
and but Mesurable hete In that plas,
As betwenes noon & hevesong scholde be,
bothe glad & Ioyful thanne was he;
thanne Asaied he Anon vpe forto stonde,
For the vanite In his hed that hadde ben longe;
And whanne þat he gan vpe forto dresse,
In hed, body, ne Membres, felt he non Siknesse.
thanne stood he vp On his feet,
and there abowtes him loked ful sket,
and Merveilled Of the grete Aventours
That he hadde there suffred Of dolours;
and Of Alle this thanne felte he Ryht nowht,
Where-Offen he Merveillede In his thowht;
and Otherwhille he thowghte A dremenge to be,
and Otherwhilles he thowhte it for Certeinte,
and Otherwhilles he Cowde Remembren him wel
Of the Aventures thanne Everidel.
and there abowtes him loked ful sket,
and Merveilled Of the grete Aventours
That he hadde there suffred Of dolours;
and Of Alle this thanne felte he Ryht nowht,
Where-Offen he Merveillede In his thowht;
and Otherwhille he thowghte A dremenge to be,
and Otherwhilles he thowhte it for Certeinte,
and Otherwhilles he Cowde Remembren him wel
Of the Aventures thanne Everidel.
| CHAPTER XXIII. The Legend of the Holy Grail | |